Electric switch



Nov. 16, 1937. Q PEPPER 2,099,573

I I ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 5, 19:57.

Inventor:

Cori F? Pep-per, g )V 6.11%

is Attovneg,

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC SWITQH Carl P. Pepper,Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application March a, 1937, Serial No. 128,809" 9 (oi. zoo-152The present invention relates to electric switches of the. type havingliquid contact circuit closers for controlling the flow of current. a x

The object of my invention is to provide an.

improved construction and arrangement switches of this type. I

In the'accompanying drawing, Fig. 1, is an end elevation of a switchembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is .a side elevation of the switch; Fig.3 is an exploded view of the parts for supporting the circuit closers;Fig. 4 is afragmentary view partly broken away showing the circuitclosersin the circuit closing position; and Fig. 5 is a view similar toFig. 4 showing thecircuit closers in the circuit interrupting position.a I I Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated my invention usingliquid contact circuit closers of the type being claimed inapplicationserial No. 759,527, filed December 26, 1933. Such circuitclosers are typical of those suitable for main a switch embodying myinvention; The circuit closers have. a pair of cup-shaped terminalswhich are separated by a diaphragm 2 of a refractory insulatingmaterial, such as a ceramic. The edges of the terminals are sealed by abead 3 of glass which also seals the junctions between the diaphragm andthe terminals. Within the space enclosed by the terminals is a suitablequantity of mercury I which forms the conducting medium between theterminals. In the manufacture of the circuit closer, the space enclosedby the terminals is evacuated and filled with hydrogen at a pressure ofone or more atmospheres which increases the circuit interruptingcapacity of the circuit closer. The diaphragm 2 is provided with anopening which is submerged in the mercury when the circuit closer is inthe current conducting position shown in Fig; 4.

When the circuit closer is in the current interrupting position shown inFig. 5, the opening 5 is above the mercury and the circuit between theterminals is therefore interrupted by the insulating diaphragm 2. Duetothe construction of the circuit closer, the interruption of the circuitbetween the terminals takes place in the mercury as the circuit closeris turned from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown inFig. 5.

The structure for supporting the liquid contact circuit closerscomprises a shaft 8 which is journaled in a suitable support I. A handle8 for rotating the shaft is fixed to one end thereof. The shaft has asquared end 9 which fits into a square opening in the handle. When thehandle is in place, the squared end is upset to form a shoulder it!which holds the handle on the shaft,

with reference to the plates.

' 0n the shaft 6 are'plates H and I2 of insulating material havingnotches l3 and H, the sides of which fit in grooves I5 and IS onopposite sides of the shaft. The sides of the notches l3 and H cooperatewith the bottom of the grooves l5 and It to key the plates to the shaft.Contacts I! are riveted in the plates, the contacts having round headsl8 which fit in complementary depressions I9 in the terminals of thecircuit closers and tubular shanks which extend through the'plates.Between the plate II and theheads l8v of the contacts ar'e'clamped metalparts having tongues 2| which extend in depressions 22 in the adjacentcircuit closerterminals and locate the angular position 0f the circuitclosers The' parts 20 also have tongues 23 which fit in one of theopenings 24 or the notches 25in the plate It The angular position of thecircuit closers may be adjusted by turning'the parts. 20 so that thetongues 23 fit in a different opening or notch. The plates H and i2 areclamped together and held on the shaft by a bail 28 having eyes 21fitting over the shaft The intermediateportion of the bail fits innotches 2 8 inthe plates i l and I2 and thereby exerts a force clampingthe plates together and holding the plates on the shaft. The grooves l5are sufficiently wider than the plate I I to permit the necessarymovement of the plate ll toward the plate l2 so that the circuit closersare'firmly held between the plates. Leads 29 are soldered into the endsof the tubular'shanks of the contacts I1 and the ends of the leads areheld in position by extending the leads inward-through openings in theplates. A spacing washer 3i prevents axial movement of the shaft .6 inthe support I.

- In the assembly of the switch, the washer 3| and the bail 26 areassembled on the shaft 6. The circuit closers are next arranged betweenthe plates 1 I and I2 with the tongues 2| fitting in the depressions 22in the adjacent circuit closer terminals. er and placed on the shaft,the notches I3 and II in the plates fitting in the grooves l5 and itbetween the eyes 21 of the ball. The ball is then swung to a position inwhich it fits in the notches 28 thereby clamping the plates together andholding the circuit closers between the plates and the plates on theshaft. When in the clamping position, the intermediate portion of thebail is stretched. The clamping force therefore is due to the resilienceof the bail. From one aspect, the bail can be considered as a tensionmember. The switch is operated by turning the shaft 5 by means of thehandle 8. When the switch is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, thecircuits are completed through the circuit closers. When the switch isin the position shown in Fig. 5, the circuits are interrupted.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, a shaft, spaced plates on said shaft having contacts adaptedto engage said terminals, and a bail having its ends connected to saidshaft and its center portion engaging said plates for clamping theplates together whereby the circuit closer is held therebetween.

2. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, a shaft, spaced plates having notches non-rotatably engagingcomplementary portions on said shaft, contacts on said plates adapted toengage said terminals, and a bail having its ends connected to saidshaft and its center. portion engaging said plates for clamping theplates together whereby the circuit closer is held therebetween and forholding the plates on said shaft.

3. In an electric switch, a support, a liquid contact circuit closerhaving opposed terminals, spaced members on said support carryingcontacts adapted to engage said terminals, one of said contacts and saidterminals having inter: fitting projections and depressions whereby thecircuit closer is supported between said contact carrying members, and atension member having its ends connected to said support and its centersection engaging one or said contact carrying members for clamping saidmembers together whereby the circuit closer is held therebetween.

4. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, contacts adapted to engage said terminals, members carryingsaid contacts, a support, and means including a tension member extendingfrom said support over an edge of at least one of said contact carryingmembers for clamping the contact carrying members together whereby thecircuit closer is held therebetween.

5. In an electric switch, a support, a liquid contact circuit closerhaving opposed terminals, contacts adapted to engage said terminals, one

of said terminals and said contacts having interfitting portions wherebyangular displacement of the circuit closer relative to the contacts isprevented, members carrying said contacts, at least one of which ismovable toward the terminals of the circuit closer, and a tension memberhaving its ends secured to said support and having an intermediateportion engaging an edge of said movable contact carrying member forclamping said members together.

6. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, contacts adapted to engage said terminals, members carryingsaid contacts, ashaft non-rotatably carrying said members, one of saidmembers being movable lengthwise of said shaft, and means clamping saidmembers together whereby the circuit closer is held therebetween.

7. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, depressions in said terminals, contacts adapted to engagesaid terminals and having projections thereon fitting in said terminals,members carrying said contacts, and means clamping said members togetherwhereby the circuit closer is held therebetween.

8. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, a depression in one of said terminals, contacts adapted toengage said terminals, one of said contacts having a tongue fitting insaid depression whereby the circuit closer is held in fixed angularrelation with respect to the contact members carrying said contacts, andmeans clamping said members together whereby the circuit closer is heldtherebetween.

9. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, a depression in one of said terminals, contacts adapted toengage said terminals, members carrying said contacts, an opening in oneof said members, one of said contacts having tongues respectivelyfitting in said depression and said opening whereby the circuit closeris held in fixed angular relation with respect to said contact, andmeans clamping said members together whereby the circuit closer is heldbetween said contacts.

CARL P. PEPPER.

